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Michigan State Basketball: 3 ideal 2021 NCAA Tournament first-round matchups

By Connor Muldowney

Mar 11, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Rocket Watts (2) controls the ball against the Maryland Terrapins in the first half at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Rocket Watts (2) controls the ball against the Maryland Terrapins in the first half at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 27, 2021; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Florida Gators guard Tre Mann (1) during the first half of the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Arden Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 27, 2021; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Florida Gators guard Tre Mann (1) during the first half of the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Arden Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Florida Gators (14-8, entering Friday)

The team that is facing off against the No. 3 team on this list (Tennessee) in the SEC Tournament quarterfinal on Friday afternoon comes in at No. 1.

Michigan State played Florida a couple of years ago in Gainesville and picked up a big win but this is a much different Gator team.

Florida lost its best player at the beginning of the season when Keyontae Johnson suffered a scare that made headlines as he collapsed during a game. They’ve been fairly average without him. They were 3-0 with him (I’m not counting the game in which he collapsed as he played just four minutes) and they’re 11-8 without him. He had a huge impact on the team.

The Gators don’t shoot very well from deep (around 35 percent) but they do have a decent offense which averages 74 points per game. They don’t excel in any area on offense or as a rebounding team which would play to the Spartans’ favor as they could shut down the Gators.

They’re also No. 152 in the country in scoring defense, allowing about 70 points per game.

Tre Mann could be a problem, but the Spartans have plenty of talented perimeter defenders to help shut him down. Michigan transfer Colin Castleton is their post threat and that’s a guy Marcus Bingham Jr. matches up really well with.

Michigan State should hope to see Florida in round one if they want a good matchup with a No. 6 or No. 7 seed. Florida finished the last eight games of the regular season 4-4 and it’s 5-5 away from home. The Gators’ only ranked wins are against Tennessee and West Virginia.

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